Гордість і упередження

           Aftersittingafewminutes,theywereallsenttooneofthewindowstoadmiretheview,Mr.Collinsattendingthemtopointoutitsbeauties,andLadyCatherinekindlyinformingthemthatitwasmuchbetterworthlookingatinthesummer. 

           Thedinnerwasexceedinglyhandsome,andtherewerealltheservantsandallthearticlesofplatewhichMr.Collinshadpromised; and,ashehadlikewiseforetold,hetookhisseatatthebottomofthetable,byherladyship’sdesire,andlookedasifhefeltthatlifecouldfurnishnothinggreater. Hecarved,andate,andpraisedwithdelightedalacrity;andeverydishwascommended,firstbyhimandthenbySirWilliam,whowasnowenoughrecoveredtoechowhateverhisson-in-lawsaid,inamannerwhichElizabethwonderedLadyCatherinecouldbear. ButLadyCatherineseemedgratifiedbytheirexcessiveadmiration,andgavemostgracioussmiles,especiallywhenanydishonthetableprovedanoveltytothem. Thepartydidnotsupplymuchconversation. Elizabethwasreadytospeakwhenevertherewasanopening,butshewasseatedbetweenCharlotteandMissdeBourgh—theformerofwhomwasengagedinlisteningtoLadyCatherine,andthelattersaidnotawordtoheralldinner-time. Mrs.JenkinsonwaschieflyemployedinwatchinghowlittleMissdeBourghate,pressinghertotrysomeotherdish,andfearingshewasindisposed. Mariathoughtspeakingoutofthequestion,andthegentlemendidnothingbuteatandadmire. 

           Whentheladiesreturnedtothedrawing-room,therewaslittletobedonebuttohearLadyCatherinetalk,whichshedidwithoutanyintermissiontillcoffeecamein,deliveringheropiniononeverysubjectinsodecisiveamanner,asprovedthatshewasnotusedtohaveherjudgementcontroverted. SheinquiredintoCharlotte’sdomesticconcernsfamiliarlyandminutely,gaveheragreatdealofadviceastothemanagementofthemall;toldherhoweverythingoughttoberegulatedinsosmallafamilyashers,andinstructedherastothecareofhercowsandherpoultry.